Birmingham Barons' Erik Johnson pitches to a Mississippi Braves batter in the first inning at Regions Field in Birmingham, Ala., Friday, April 12, 2013. (Mark Almond/malmond@al.com)

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - The Birmingham Barons announced
yet another move with its pitching staff today, promoting right-hander Erik
Johnson to Triple A Charlotte. That leaves the Barons roster at 24.

Daniel Webb and Santos Rodriguez were previously
sent up to Charlotte.

In his first season at the Double A level, Johnson helped lead the Barons to
the best record in the Southern League and a first-half North Division
Championship. He went 8-2 with an ERA of 2.23 (21 ER/ 84.2 IP) over 14 starts.

Johnson leads the Southern League with eight wins
and ranks among the league leaders in numerous categories including WHIP--walks and hits per inningpitched - (first, 0.92),
innings pitched (second), opponents average (second, .189), ERA (second) and
strikeouts (third, 74).

Johnson, ranked as the No. 4 prospect in the White Sox organization, was
especially dominant at home going 5-1 with a 1.06 ERA in seven starts at
Regions Field. He had scoreless outings in six of his 14 starts and won each of
his past six starts while posting an ERA of 1.83 (8 ER/39.1 IP).

The right-hander's three complete games are the
most of any pitcher in Minor League Baseball this season.
Johnson, 23, is in his third season professional season since being drafted by
the White Sox in the second round of the June 2011 First-Year Player draft. He
attended the University of California at Berkley where he helped lead the
Golden Bears to a berth in the 2011 College World Series.

Johnson has made 33 career appearances (31
starts), posting a record of 14-7 with a 2.41 ERA (48 ER/ 179.0 IP) with 163
strikeouts between Rookie Level Great Falls (2011), Class A Kannapolis and
Class A Winston-Salem (2012) and Birmingham. This will be his first career
appearance at the Triple A level.